News & Events

School Mini-Grants Available for Eco Projects

Jan. 2023: Is there a school project related to energy or environmental sustainability that you would like funded? The Energize DE SEU and Green Building United would love to help you with your project! Whether it be an led lighting or small solar project, native tree planting or outdoor pollinator or rain garden, the grants are easy to apply for and at up to $3000, can easily support a meaningful project for your class or club.  For more info, and to apply, click here.

Solar and Clean Energy Incentives

Jan. 2023: Government incentives might encourage you to make a new year’s resolution in 2023: reduce your carbon footprint. Starting this year, Americans can take advantage of a stream of tax credits to make their homes, cars, and businesses more sustainable thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Rachel Cleetus, at the Union of Concerned Scientists says, “Clean energy is already so competitive in the marketplace, here in the US and around the world, and this will really tip the scales in favor of accelerating that momentum around renewable energy, wind, solar, etc.” Consumers can refer to the White House’s interactive clean energy website, which helps users determine what credits are available to them. The Department of Energy published a list of the credits people can save specifically on green energy and energy-efficient household appliances.

Free Girl’s Engineering “Camp” - Feb. 25th

Jan. 2023: The Philadelphia Section of the Society of Women Engineers and Widener University are once again co-sponsoring a one-day Engineering Girls Camp on the afternoon of Saturday Feb. 25 at Widener University's main campus in Chester, PA. The camp's purpose is to connect girls who have an interest in engineering and computer science with practicing women engineers and female engineering and computer science students. The camp format includes “hands-on” laboratory activities that will highlight some of the technology areas in which engineers and computer scientists work. Funded by corporate donations, the camp is offered free of cost.  Info here.

Clean Energy More Affordable NOW!

JANUARY 2023! Happy New Year from the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association!
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, which went into effect on January 1st, President Biden is delivering on his promise to lower the costs of clean energy.
For info on the specific incentives, click here.

Grants for Green Schools

Green Building United (GBU) is seeking applicants for its Delaware Pathways to Green Schools Program. The program was renewed for a ninth year thanks to the continued support of Energize Delaware, the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). The Pathways Program provides grants, one-on-one support, and expert resources to K-12 schools in Delaware that are committed to becoming healthier, more sustainable, and more energy efficient. Deadline is Jan. 24, 2023. To learn more and apply, click here.

Fellowships & Research Opportunities

Jan. 2023: The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship offers candidates an opportunity to learn about the federal government and its role in advancing renewable energy with the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, D.C.For more info, click here.

Worldwide Climate Teach-in

Dec. 2022: The Worldwide Teach-in on Climate and Justice has helped educators, students, faith leaders, and community members to hundreds of Universities, Colleges, High Schools, K-8 Schools, and Faith Communities in more than 50 countries. This work is bringing hope in communities across the globe. The next WORLDWIDE Teach-In will take place on March 29th, 2023. To learn more, click here.

Grants to Schools for Energy Improvements

Dec. 2022: The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. DOE, announced that applications are open for the Renew America’s Schools grant program.  This initial funding round, up to $80 million of the $500 million program, is available to public schools to perform energy improvements in the highest-need K-12 districts across the country. For further details and to apply.

DOE Announces $8M to Integrate Solar with Farming

Dec. 2022: The U.S. DOE announced $8 million for 6 solar energy research projects across 6 states and the District of Columbia that will provide new economic opportunities for farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. The funding supports agrivoltaics—the co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land—and aims to reduce barriers to utility-and community-scale solar energy deployment while maximizing benefits for farmers and local communities. For full article.

Science Fair

Dec. 2022: The George Washington Carver Science Fair is an annual fair that provides opportunities for Philadelphia school students to gain enriched learning experiences through scientific inquiry and discovery. The fair is held every Spring and is open to all students in grades four through twelve who attend Philadelphia County public, charter, parochial and private schools, as well as to home-schooled students residing in the county. For more info.

Student Contest: “Imagine a Clean Energy Future”

How do YOU imagine a Clean Energy Future? If you are a 5-12th grade student, we’d like to know! The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association is sponsoring a contest with submissions in 3 different categories: Visual Arts, Language Arts and Video. Check it out!

Worldwide Adoption of Solar is Picking Up

Nov. 2022: How fast Is the world switching to renewables? It turns out that 87 countries have passed the 5% tipping point into widespread adoption.

On New Year's Eve, 1879, Thomas Edison flipped the switch on the first building strung up with electric light bulbs. Night turned into day, and the revelers rang in a new age of electricity. Today there’s a new Edison-level transformation under way. It affects how we generate the power that flows to our electrical outlets—and what gets plugged into those zero-emission electrons. Bloomberg Green has identified tipping points for 10 clean-energy technologies, from electric motorcycles to heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. New analysis shows which countries have crossed the threshold and how quickly those markets then expanded. For the entire article, click here.

Inflation Reduction Act: Clean Energy Highlights

Fall 2022: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest climate bill in U.S. history. A main policy focus of the IRA is supporting tax credits and rebates for clean energy, electric vehicles, and efficiency updates. Please see below for some highlights and how this bill can benefit you and/or your business:

Residential Clean Energy Credit: 30% tax credit for residential installations of clean energy (including solar, battery storage, etc.), offered through the end of 2034.

HOMES Rebate Program: Allocates $4.3B for state-level rebates for energy-saving residential retrofits through the end of 2031.

Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit: 30% tax credit for residential efficiency investments (including insulation, windows, heating/cooling appliances, etc.) offered through the end of 2032.

High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program: Allocates $4.5B for state-level rebates for home electrification investments, specifically for low and moderate-income households.

Clean Vehicle Credit: $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of new electric vehicles, offered through the end of 2032.

Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit: $4,000 tax credit for the purchase of used electric vehicles.

All of these policy incentives are projected to increase the deployment of clean energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency investments. This is an unprecedented level of policy support from the U.S. federal government. Please note that not all households are eligible for all credits and rebates. Consult with state-specific program specialists, tax accountants, and energy professionals about potential savings for your household.

Check out the Inflation Reduction Act Infographic Version.

Solar Going Mainstream with PA Utilities

Nov. 2022: Utilities aren’t where you turn for cutting-edge stuff. So when they start signing long-term deals for solar power, and their regulators don’t just permit it but praise it, you know that solar energy is no longer cutting edge. It’s mainstream. Duquesne Light and West Penn Power, the two main electric providers in southwestern Pennsylvania, say they want to incentivize the buildout of new solar projects in or near their distribution areas. To read the full story, click here.

Franklin Institute Seeking STEM Scholars!

Nov. 2022: The Franklin Institute’s STEM Scholars Program, aimed towards Philadelphia area youth, is searching for talented students to be a part of its next class. The program will identify highly motivated, underserved high school students to participate in both school year and summer hands-on STEM programming. Requirements are:

• The program selects underserved, high need freshmen from the Greater Philadelphia Region;

• Interest in STEM and STEM-related careers;

• One letter of recommendation from a teacher or administrator;

• Personal statement (to be written in the box provided at the end of this application).

To apply, click here:

Schools to Increase Energy Efficiency

Nov. 2022: The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today released a Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing $80 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to make K-12 schools more energy efficient and lower their energy costs, including some of the nation’s highest-need schools. The funding is the first tranche of the Renew America’s Schools grant program created by the infrastructure law to provide schools critical energy infrastructure upgrades.

PA Needs to Pick-up the Pace …

Oct. 2022: When President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, clean energy advocates celebrated the promise of an expanding workforce, cleaner air, and lower energy bills for communities across the country – but that promise has a long road ahead before it can come to fruition. Responsibility for implementing and taking advantage of many of the Act’s provisions will fall largely to states. Right now, Pennsylvania is at risk of falling behind.

For full article, click here.

Guide to Solar PV Tax Credits Now Available

Oct. 2022: Confused or curious about the new solar tax credits? Check out the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics. This guide clarifies it all! Click here

PA Falls Behind in Clean Energy Transition

A new report and a fabulous new tool Renewables on the Rise Dashboard show the stark reality: Pennsylvania has fallen behind in the development of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources. This failure means that PA is losing jobs, technical prowess, manufacturing, and skilled workers to other states. This new interactive tool is essential for anyone interested in the future of our state.

Community Choice Aggregation in PA!

Join the movement to develop a Community Choice Aggregation (“CCA”) Program in Pennsylvania!

CCA will allow aggregations of local governments to provide 100% renewable energy to their residents and local businesses. The CCA for PA Working group aims to establish a program that will give home-rule authority, the power of energy choice, and more price control to local PA communities.

For further information, click here.

Schools Going Solar

Public schools are increasingly using savings from solar energy to upgrade facilities, help their communities, and give teachers raises — often with no cost to taxpayers. One school district was able to give pay raises to its teachers as big as 30 percent. Another bought new heating and ventilation systems, all the better to help students and educators breathe easier in these times. The improvements didn’t cost taxpayers a cent, and were paid for by an endlessly renewable source — the sun.

As solar energy gains traction across the country, more and more schools are going solar, particularly those in cash-strapped districts contending with dwindling tax bases. For full article, click here.

Permitting Reform Needed for Solar

Since the newly signed CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act , policymakers have enacted four major laws since 2020 that, together, have great potential to put our nation on a path to seriously address climate change and achieve the global goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The success of these measures, however, hinges on whether the President and Congress will reform the onerous permitting process that otherwise will present huge regulatory, legal and structural roadblocks to building a new clean energy infrastructure. Without permitting reform, projects will be delayed for years, costs will skyrocket and billions in taxpayer dollars will be wasted — leaving our efforts to implement the recent historic clean energy investments to wither on the vine. For the full article, click here.

Central PA Schools Set to Go Solar

15 Centre County entities are banding together to buy solar energy that could cover all their electricity needs for up to 25 years, which they say could mean cheaper electric bills in addition to the environmental benefits. They’ve put out a request for proposals to buy up to 32 million kWh per year of solar power and asked for proposals for contracts that would last 5, 15 or 25 years. State College Area School District board of trustees member Peter Buck, said there wouldn’t be any big up-front cost and the electricity will cost less. He said they’re currently paying about $.05/kWh, but he expects that rate will go up significantly if they need to renew.

To read the full article, click here.

Inflation Reduction Act Will Benefit PA

The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant legislation in U.S. history to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen American energy security. It will lower energy costs for households and businesses, create manufacturing jobs for American workers, and deliver a clean, secure, and healthy future for our children and grandchildren. The savings, jobs, and other benefits provided by this legislation will reach communities across Pennsylvania.

Solarizing Philadelphia!

Aug. 2022: PSEA’S Executive Director, Liz Robinson was recently interviewed for GRID Magazine (see pgs. 16, 17) regarding making solar more accessible to all Philadelphians. To read the article.

Solar Gets a Boost

July 2022: The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), launched new initiatives to connect families to more reliable clean energy, lower electricity bills, and create good-paying jobs in the domestic solar industry. DOE, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), announced the 5 states and Washington, D.C. that will support the pilot of the Community Solar Subscription Platform to connect families to solar energy and lower electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other low-income assistance programs. DOE also announced $10 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to jump-start solar energy careers in underserved communities. For full article, click here.

Bright Solar Futures Trains Youth for Solar Jobs

July 2022: The Philadelphia Energy Authority's (PEA) Bright Solar Futures (BSF) Program. BSF is a 3-year, 1080-hour Career and Technical Education (CTE) vocational program - the first of its kind in the nation - that launches young people into future clean energy jobs. Students train in solar and battery storage installation, design, sales, weatherization, construction basics, and job site safety. This program is offered at Frankford High School in Philadelphia. 

 As part of this program, PEA and its partners developed a portable curriculum, meant to be shared with other school districts nationwide who are interested in starting a similar program.

Linked here is an interest form to collect contact information for folks who would like to learn more, including information on our virtual curriculum rollout this September. 

DOE Launches New Mapping Tool for Environmental Justice

July 2022: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity launched a webpage to centrally locate information and tools related to how DOE is implementing the Justice40 Initiative, an initiative of the Biden executive office directing 40% of the overall benefits of clean energy investments, among others, to flow to disadvantaged communities (DACs). On this new page, DOE outlines its eight policy priorities for Justice40, shares its working definition for DACs, and introduces the Disadvantaged Communities Reporter, DOE’s new mapping tool. Among others, DOE priorities include increasing clean energy jobs, energy resiliency, and democracy in DACs.

Solar Jobs Outpace All Other US Jobs

July 2022: “Amidst the unique challenges of a nation coming out of a global pandemic, America’s energy sector stands out with considerable job growth across nearly all industries,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “DOE’s USEER report shows that jobs critical to our clean energy transition are on the rise and poised for continued expansion thanks to the historic investments from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” To read the report, click here.

PA’s decision to join RGGI is tied up in court.

July 1, 2022 marks Pennsylvania's formal participation in the Regional GreenHouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI!!! This is really exciting news, that we at PSEA have long awaited and pushed for. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cooperative, market-based effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector. It represents the first cap-and-invest regional initiative implemented in the United States. To check out more about RGGI, click here.

Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023

June 2022: The Solar District Cup challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design and model distributed energy systems for a campus or urban district. These systems integrate solar, storage, and other technologies across mixed-use districts, or groups of buildings served by a common electrical distribution feeder. The competition engages students in engineering, urban planning, finance, and related disciplines to reimagine how energy is generated, managed, and used in a district. For more info:

Solar Sprint Winners Recognized at PV Specialist Conference

June 2022: The winners of the Philadelphia Jr. Solar Sprint, coordinated by the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, were recognized at the international Photovoltaics Specialist Conference on Wednesday, June 8th at the Convention Center in Philadelphia. This conference draws engineers, scientists, educators, researchers and innovators from all over the world. The conference engages young people through its contests and by connecting with local solar youth programming in the host city. Luckily, the conference followed immediately after our Solar Sprint, and many of our winners were able to attend. They got to explain and demonstrate how they made their model solar cars to engineers and scientists and answer any and all questions. Engaging young people in the fastest growing energy industry in the world is a pretty exciting thing!

2022 Solar Sprint: Fun in the Sun

June 2022: Perfect weather and great solar cars made for a Stunning Success on June 4th. The Philadelphia Jr. Solar Sprint makes solar energy come alive for everyone involved. More than 80 students competed for a range of prizes, showing off the model solar cars they designed and built. Philadelphia Solar Energy Association partners with Drexel University’s School of Engineering to put on this event every year. Engineering students as well as dozens of volunteers, help students with last minute repairs, keeping score, giving tours, and putting up and taking down the race tracks and all the other equipment needed. DEP’s News Release For more information, contact lizhrob2@gmail.com.

Defense Production Act mobilized to accelerate Solar Growth

June 2022: President Biden issued presidential determinations providing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with the authority to utilize the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate domestic production of five key energy technologies: (1) solar; (2) transformers and electric grid components; (3) heat pumps; (4) insulation; and (5) electrolyzers, fuel cells, and platinum group metals. The DPA determinations are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to lower energy costs for families, strengthen national security, and achieve lasting American energy independence that reduces demand for fossil fuels and bolsters our clean energy economy. To read more.

Wind & Solar Get a Financial Burden Lifted

June 2022: The Biden administration said on Wednesday it would cut in half the amount it charges companies to build wind and solar projects on federal lands, a move designed to encourage development of renewable energy. “Clean energy projects on public lands have an important role to play in reducing our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and lowering costs for families,” Deb Haaland, the interior secretary, said in a statement. To read full article.

DOE Launches Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange

May 2022: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched the Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange — a new partnership funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that brings together grid operators, utilities, state and tribal governments, clean energy developers, energy justice organizations, and other stakeholders to help solve challenges to deploying clean energy resources to the electricity grid. For full article.

May 2022: Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with General Motors (GM) and MathWorks, announced that the Georgia Institute of Technology has been named the winner of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, which tasked 11 North American universities with applying advanced vehicle technologies to a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer while considering emissions, safety, and consumer acceptability factors. The Ohio State University finished in second place and University of Alabama came in third.  Click to read more.

Large DOE Grant for Agrivoltaics

May 2022: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity, which will award $8 million in funding for projects that examine how agrivoltaics can scale up to provide new economic opportunities to farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. Agrivoltaics is defined as agricultural production, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat that exist underneath solar panels and/or in between rows of solar panels.

SolarAPP Wins Innovative Award

May 2022: Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards honors projects whose main feature is a software component, in any discipline. One of the finalists is the SolarAPP, developed by The National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The software launched a collaborative effort with key code officials, authorities having jurisdiction, and the solar industry to develop standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals quickly, for eligible rooftop solar systems. For the article, click here.

Philadelphia Making Emission-Reducing Progress . . .

April 2022: Planet-warming pollution is going down in Philadelphia. A new report shows citywide emissions have dropped 20% since 2006 — significant progress, but still a long way from net-zero, where the city has promised to be by the year 2050.

“We’re certainly on track,” said Christine Knapp, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability. “We’re a fifth of the way there, but we have less than 30 years to get there.” For more.

Healthier Schools Proposed

Apr. 2022: As part the new Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, the U.S. DOE released a Request for Information (RFI) for a $500 million grant program from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for K-12 public school energy upgrades. The program will help deliver cleaner and healthier classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, playgrounds, and gyms where over three million teachers teach and 50 million students learn, eat, and build friendships every day. Energy upgrades to America’s public schools, including leveraging renewable power sources and electric school buses, will bring the nation closer to President Biden’s goal to build a net-zero economy by 2050.

DOE Reports on the Benefits of Going Solar

Apr. 2022: According to the Dept. of Energy, a study shows that adding solar to a home increases the value, and homes with solar sell faster. Solar energy is sustainable, renewable, and plentiful. As the cost of using solar to produce electricity goes down each year, many Americans are increasingly switching to solar. Now, there are over a million solar installations across the country. To read the report, click here.

PSEA Receives Grant for Solar Curriculum

Apr. 2022: Exciting news for the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association (PSEA)! The Dept. of Environmental Protection recently awarded PSEA a grant to develop 6th grade solar curriculum. To read more:

DOE’s Shine On Awards Salute Solar!

Mar. 2022: The U.S. DOE announced a new award program to recognize solar industry communications campaigns that reach underrepresented audiences and have the potential to increase the diversity of solar adopters and the solar workforce. The American-Made Shine On Awards for Inclusive Solar Outreach (Shine On Awards) will support DOE efforts to expand the equitable adoption of solar energy, especially in underrepresented communities, and to increase the diversity of the solar workforce. To read more, click here.

Kindergarteners go SOLAR!

Mar. 2022: On a recent, sunny March day, our Executive Director, Liz Robinson visited The Philadelphia School to introduce a Kindergarten class to solar energy! She spoke about what solar is, how it works and why it can help mitigate climate change. The students were enthralled! Liz brought along some model solar cars so the children could see firsthand that when the sun shines, the motors roar ….and when a cloud passes over, the motor slows or stops.

See the article below, to learn more about our Solar Sprint competition!

Philadelphia’s Solar Sprint is ON!

If you have a middle school student interested in having fun, learning about solar energy and competing in a friendly model solar car competition (with prizes :-), please contact Liz Robinson at: lizhrob2@gmail.com Or, to register student participants, please fill out this form.

Impacts of Low-Income Solar Programs

Mar. 2022: Subsidies for low-income solar are reaching the right households and increasing adoption in disadvantaged communities. Many states have offered subsidies to promote rooftop solar adoption. Most of these subsidies have phased out over time, partly under the assumption that subsidies become less necessary as solar prices decline. However, even though solar prices have declined significantly, relatively high up-front prices remain a barrier to solar adoption for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households.  To read more:

Project Drawdown Underscores Urgent Need for Action

Mar. 2022: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a sobering report sharing the latest knowledge on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. In the report’s own words, “The science is clear. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.”  To continue reading, click here.

Webinar: An Intro to the Solar in Your Community Guidebook

Mar. 2022: Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, on Thurs. April 14, from 1PM-2 EST, to learn more about the 2022 update to the Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook. Last updated in 2011, much has changed in the world of solar. With an emphasis on energy equity, the 2022 edition highlights new and existing technologies and strategies to maximize the benefits of solar to all communities. To learn more and to register, Click here

Philly to Host Premier Photovoltaic Conference

Mar. 2022: Philadelphia will host the 49th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference on June 5-10, at the PA Convention Center. For 60 years, PVSC has been the premier scientific and technical conference focused on all areas of photovoltaics from fundamental science to commercial applications and, increasingly, to deployment, policy, and resources. Rooms are reserved in the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown Hotel conveniently connected to the Convention Center in the heart of the city. For more info, click here.

US DOE Announces Solar Decathlon Finalists

Mar. 2022: The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition that has inspired thousands of students worldwide to enter the clean energy workforce since its inception in 2002. Today, the 10 contests that are the foundation of Solar Decathlon challenge students to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings that mitigate climate change and improve our quality of life through greater affordability, resilience, and energy efficiency. The winners are those teams that best blend architectural and engineering excellence with innovation. Join us in building the next generation!

3rd Generation Coal Miner Turns Solar Installer

Feb. 2022: Matthew McFadden was born and raised in Wise County in southwestern Virginia’s coal country. In the mid-2000s, McFadden was working in sales at a local electronics company, while several members of his family worked as miners in underground coal mines. “I saw what my brother-in-law and my father-in-law were bringing in monetarily and explored that [profession],” McFadden said. To read more.

Leasing Your Land for Solar Development

Feb. 2022: Webinar, Feb. 23: As utility-scale and community solar projects are increasingly proposed across New York and Pennsylvania, greater numbers of landowners are being approached by land agents, working for solar companies, interested in leasing their land. With attorney Scott Kurkoski presenting on key solar lease terms, Leasing Your Land for Solar Energy Development will give participants an overview that prepares them to more beneficially discuss leasing issues with developers and with the attorneys who would preferably advise landowners on specific leasing language before a lease is negotiated or signed. For more info & to register.

Sheets Stores to Go Solar, in a Big Way!

Feb. 2022: Sheetz announced Wednesday that it has partnered with the nation’s leading supplier of clean energy solutions to power most of its Pennsylvania facilities with renewable energy. 

The family-owned and operated restaurant and convenience store signed a long-term renewable supply agreement with Constellation. By January 2024, the chain will receive approximately 110 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year. This will avoid nearly 78,000 metric tons of carbon emission associated with its energy use annually – the equivalent of taking nearly 17,000 cars off the road, according to U.S. EPA estimates. For the article and video.

Equitable Energy Storage in PA

Feb. 2022: Solar power provides a wide range of benefits to Pennsylvanians. It creates local jobs, with PA currently home to over 400 solar companies with over 4,300 solar workers. Solar power brings tax revenue to our communities, and the solar industry has cumulatively invested over $2.5 billion in the Keystone State. And solar power cleans our air. As the sweeping benefits of solar power become more widely understood, and as Pennsylvania begins to invest more seriously in clean energy, energy storage must also be a big part of the conversation.
To read the article, click here.

Funding for Solar-Thermal Power

Feb. 2022: The U.S. (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) Fiscal Year 2022 Research, Development & Demonstration funding program, which will award up to $25 million for innovative projects in CSP technologies. These projects will accelerate the large-scale development and deployment of solar technology. To learn more.

Utility Scale Solar More Efficient

Jan. 2022: Utility-scale solar power today is much more efficient than it was a decade ago in how much land it uses, according to new research. The paper, by lead author Mark Bolinger of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is timely because utility-scale solar is a big part of plans to make a transition to carbon-free electricity, and because there have been few recent studies about solar’s efficiency in land use.

Want to be Current with Solar Happenings?

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Solar Snapshot newsletter is chocked full of solar news and events. Check out the newsletter.

PA Ranks 9th in US for Solar Potential from Big Box Stores

Jan. 2022: Putting solar panels on the state’s retail and grocery stores could generate enough clean energy to power nearly 300,000 homes. PSEA’s Executive Director, Liz Robinson spoke at a news conference explaining that, “Solar is such a huge win-win for big commercial buildings, they save money, improve their resilience, improve local air quality, create local jobs and combat climate change all at the same time!” To read more and hear the recording, click here.

DOE Releases Guidebook to Boost Solar Use

Jan. 2022: The U.S. DOE released the 3d edition of “Solar Power in Your Community,” DOE’s guidebook to help local governments unlock environmental and economic benefits of increased solar deployment in their communities. This latest edition contains nearly 40 case studies from around the country that show field-tested approaches to reduce solar market barriers, highlights new technologies and strategies to maximize the benefits of solar, such as combining solar with energy storage to improve resilience, and emphasizes strategies for improving the equity of solar deployment at the local level. 

“DOE’s solar guidebook is a must-have reference for local governments interested in using proven strategies to speed up going solar and cut energy bills for their residents,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

SolarAPP+ Approves Solar Permits the Same Day!

Jan. 2022: A new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that in a pilot program conducted in AZ and CA, the SolarAPP+ tool reduced the average permit review time of solar projects to less than one day. SEIA and DOE are hosting a webinar on February 17th to discuss how the SolarAPP+ works, and how it helped these pilot communities streamline their solar permitting process. Register for the webinar.

Who is your Local Climate Action Champ?

Jan. 2022: Do you know someone that is passionate about protecting our environment? Share your story about a local climate action champion below. The Office of Sustainability will honor as many champions as possible in its annual magazine - Greenworks Review - to be released on Earth Day 2022. To submit a champion, click here.

Renewables Quadruple in the Past Decade

Jan. 2022: We begin the year with the very encouraging news that renewables in the U.S. have increased nearly 4-fold. For example, we produce more than 23X as much solar power as we did in 2011. For more details, and to read the exciting report, check out Environment America’s report.

Philadelphia is Going GREEN!

Dec. 2021: From the Office of Sustainability: At the beginning of 2021, the City announced its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Throughout the year, the Office of Sustainability and its partners marked several milestones in achieving that vision. Some of these milestones include releasing the Climate Action Playbook, hiring the first Chief Resilience Officer, marking a 39% reduction in municipal greenhouse gasses through the Municipal Energy Master Plan dashboard, banning single-use plastic bags, releasing the Municipal Clean Fleet Plan, publishing the PGW Diversification Study, and passing legislation to update LEED standards for municipal buildings. We are excited for the innovation and challenges that 2022 and the years ahead will bring.

Biden Administration Approves 2 Major Solar Projects

Dec. 2021: The Biden administration gave the go-ahead to 2 major solar projects on federal land, pushing forward with clean energy plans by using federal authority after WV Senator Joe Manchin III, a coal industry supporter, this week said he would not back broader climate legislation. The two approved solar projects, and a third - nearing approval, would generate about 1,000 megawatts, enough electricity to power about 132,000 homes, the Interior Department said. All three projects are in Riverside County, Calif. For more:

Biden Orders Federal Vehicles & Bldgs to Use Renewables by 2050

Dec. 2021: President Biden unveiled a plan to make the federal government carbon neutral, ordering federal agencies to buy electric vehicles, to power facilities with wind, solar and nuclear energy, and to use sustainable building materials. In a series of executive orders, Mr. Biden called on the government to transform its 300,000 buildings, 600,000 cars and trucks, and use its annual purchases of $650 billion in goods and services to meet his goal of a federal government that stops adding carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by 2050. To read more, click here.

Philadelphia Energy Authority Claims Big Investment in Clean Energy Projects

Nov. 2021: The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) is committed to leveraging energy as a tool for impact on our city's most challenging issues. The annual report highlights how PEA’s work creates pathways out of poverty through job creation and workforce development, fights climate change by helping the City lead by example, supports healthier learning environments with the School District of Philadelphia, improves public health and generational wealth through low-income housing restoration, energy efficiency and rooftop solar, and much more.

When the Philadelphia Energy Campaign was launched in 2016, they pledged to invest $1 billion in clean energy projects and create 10,000 jobs. Through 2020, PEA has supported $167 million in clean energy projects, and created over 1700 jobs, and are on track to hit their 10,000 job goal by 2026. To read more about the accomplishments of PEA, click here.

Thermal Solar Goes Where PVs Can’t

Oct. 2021: GLOBAL SOLAR ENERGY supplies are growing rapidly, with nearly 10 times as much solar capacity installed today as there was a decade ago. Leading the boom is the photovoltaic (PV) panel, which converts sunlight into electricity using semiconductors. But even as the glossy rectangles become increasingly cheaper and ubiquitous, solar PV alone can't solve the nagging question: What to do when the sun isn't shining? As electric utilities and policymakers seek solutions for storing and dispatching energy on demand, concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) is once again gaining traction. Click here to read more. .

DOE Sec Challenges Mayors to Improve Solar Permitting

Energy Secretary Granholm issued a letter encouraging mayors across the country to adopt SolarAPP+, a free online portal that helps local governments instantly process permits for residential solar systems. The letter is part of a campaign led by the DOE to get 125 U.S. communities to actively explore or sign up for the SolarAPP+ tool by the end of September. Here is a copy of Secretary Granholm’s letter.

Biden Proposes Solar Provide 45% of US Electricity by 2050!

Sept. 2021: The Biden administration just released a plan to produce almost half of the nation’s electricity from the sun by 2050 as part of its effort to combat climate change.

Solar energy provided less than 4% of the country’s electricity last year, and the administration’s target of 45% would represent a huge leap and will most likely take a fundamental reshaping of the energy industry. In a new report, the Energy Department said the country needed to double the amount of solar energy installed every year over the next 4 years compared with last year. And then it will need to double annual installations again by 2030.

To read the full article, click here.

U.S. DOE’s Solar Study Provides Blueprint for a Zero-Carbon Grid

 New Report Shows Solar Energy Rapidly Expands, Generating More Electricity in 2035 than All Homes Consume Today and Creating Economic Opportunities Across America

Sept. 2021: Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released the Solar Futures Study detailing the significant role solar will play in decarbonizing the nation’s power grid. The study shows that by 2035, solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity, drive deep decarbonization of the grid, and employ as many as 1.5 million people—without raising electricity prices. The study’s findings call for massive and equitable deployment of clean energy sources, underscoring the Biden Administration’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis and rapidly increase access to renewable power throughout the country.  For more:

The Dos and Dont’s of Leasing Land for Solar Projects

Aug. 2021: As written in the recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, there are now so many large solar projects planned for Pennsylvania that, if all the plans panned out, energy from the sun would finally approach output from coal and nuclear power.

More than 14 gigawatts of Pennsylvania-based utility-scale solar are in line to connect to the regional transmission grid, PJM Interconnection. But the grid’s review will take years, and many of these projects will not go forward.

Still, the queue itself is a sign of how an industry that was virtually nonexistent a few years ago is creating sparks in the Keystone state.

And that means there’s an urgent need to educate landowners before a wave of land agents with solar leases in hand come knocking, said Dan Brockett, a Penn State Extension educator.To read more, click here

Major Climate Changes Inevitable & Irreversible – starkest warning yet

Aug. 2021: Human activity is changing the Earth’s climate in ways “unprecedented” in thousands or hundreds of thousands of years, with some of the changes now inevitable and “irreversible”, climate scientists have warned. Within the next two decades, temperatures are likely to rise by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, breaching the ambition of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and bringing widespread devastation and extreme weather.

Only rapid and drastic reductions in greenhouse gases in the next 10 years can prevent such climate breakdown, with every fraction of a degree of further heating likely to compound the accelerating effects, according to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading authority on climate science. To read more of this article.

Renewables Became 2nd Largest Electricity Source in 2020

Aug. 2021: In 2020, renewable energy sources (including wind, hydroelectric, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy) generated about 21% of all the electricity generated in the US. Only natural gas produced more electricity than renewables in the United States in 2020. Renewables surpassed both nuclear and coal for the first time on record. This outcome in 2020 was due mostly to significantly less coal use in U.S. electricity generation and steadily increased use of wind and solar. For more.

5 Innovative Solar Companies to Receive $1M each from DOE

July 2021: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that five small businesses will each receive $1 million to advance their solar energy technology innovations. The projects address a range of solar industry market needs, including cybersecurity, floating solar, energy systems for manufactured homes, low-cost manufacturing, and module performance. To read more:

What? Easy Solar Permitting?

PSEA’s SolarAPP Webinar on July 20th introduced state and local officials from across the state to NREL staff and partners. SolarApp, a software tool developed by NREL to make solar permitting quicker and easier than ever is free to municipalities! You can watch the recording of the webinar here.   https://youtu.be/CWukY4gy6uY . If you would like copies of the handouts and presentations as well, please contact Liz Robinson lizhrob2@gmail.com.

RGGI needed to energize Pennsylvania’s economy

June 2021: A news conference sponsored the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance and others supported the work of the Wolf administration, which is moving Pennsylvania to join the RGGI carbon trading program that is in place in nearly a dozen other Northeast and Mid Atlantic states. Read more

What is the future for gas utilities like PGW in a clean energy future?

June 2021: An excellent editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer brings readers up to date on the City’s Office of Sustainability’s efforts to explore all possible options for PGW in a zero carbon future. Ideas from “renewable gas” to community solar are being considered. The editorial also reveals that obstructionist efforts led by Senator Gene Yaw from Indiana County, may be motivated by his own financial interests.

“ Meanwhile, at the state level, it’s critical that representatives oppose Harrisburg’s effort to tie Philadelphia’s hands. In February, State Sen. Gene Yaw introduced legislation to preempt municipalities from restricting the types of energy used in buildings. If passed, the bill would leave the future of PGW and Philadelphia’s climate change mitigation up to legislators like Yaw, who is currently chairman of the state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and who disclosed 2020 income from oil and gas companies including Halliburton.”

Wind & solar need to grow for US to meet emissions goals

June 2021: A new Princeton University study looks at how the landscape of the US might change as we strive to reach President Biden’s goal of reaching net-zero by 2050. The study looks at 5 different paths to achieve this goal, particularly how and where solar and wind need to ramp up. Read more:

Student-designed portable solar carport wins Genius Award

June 2021: A Florida college student, Antonia “Toni” Ginsberg-Klemmt, won a $10,000 OZY Genius Award for her Gismo Power, a mobile solar carport with an integrated electric vehicle charger. The unit is both mobile and foldable, so can be stored in a garage in the event of severe winds.

Report Shows No Room for Investment in Fossil Fuels

May 18, 2021: The release of a 1.5°C-aligned energy scenario from the International Energy Agency (IEA) sends a strong signal ahead of COP26 to industry, investors and governments that continued investment in new fossil fuel supply could undermine Paris climate goals. This is the first time the IEA has put forward a scenario charting the course for reducing emissions from the energy industry in alignment with the Paris Agreement. They find that no investments in new fossil fuel supply are needed in its net zero pathway. Beyond projects committed as of 2021, no new oil and gas fields are approved for development in the pathway and no new coal mines or mine extensions are required. For more:

Renewable Energy Is Suddenly Startlingly Cheap

Apr. 2021: Scientists have long acknowledged that the sun directs more energy to the Earth in 1 hour than humans use in a full year. Until very recently, it was too expensive to capture much of that power. This has changed. In a recent New Yorker article, Bill McKibben, founder of 360.org and renowned author and environmental scholar, writes that the major challenge now is pivoting our political will. To read the full article, click here

Gov. Wolf Announces Largest Govt. Commitment to Solar in US!

Mar. 2021: Governor Tom Wolf announced today a major clean energy initiative that will produce nearly 50 percent of state government’s electricity through seven new solar energy arrays totaling 191-megawatts to be built around the state. Part of the governor’s GreenGov initiative, Pennsylvania PULSE (Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy) will go into operation on January 1, 2023. The project is the largest solar commitment by any government in the U.S. announced to date. Read more

Bob Nape, 1951-2021

Our friend and colleague, Bob Nape passed away in New York on January 2, 2021. Born on June 25, 1951 in Scranton, PA, Bob was passionate about the environment. He moved to Philadelphia, PA and became involved in solar energy - starting his own business, “Solar is Hot’, installing solar water heating systems. In Bob’s own words:

“I began working in the solar industry in 1984.  Solar was in its “heyday”. There were 40% residential tax credits for solar investment. Jimmy Carter installed a solar hot water system on top of the White House. It seemed like there were companies everywhere getting into solar. It all came screeching to a halt on Jan 1, 1986. Upon taking office in 1981, Ronald Reagan immediately had the solar collectors removed from the White House and then the crushing blow, the expiration of the 40% federal tax credit. The incentive that created the sale of one million solar hot water systems and was reducing our dependence on foreign oil, was squashed like a bug. Smell politics here ? Smell special interests ? Smell big oil ?

In Philadelphia, one of my proudest accomplishments was the work of the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association. Along with Lisa Rose and others, we staged the annual Junior Solar Sprint competition, an exciting and educational model solar car race for junior high school students.”

Bob survived in the solar market through sheer determination.  He became “the last man standing” in the solar water heating business in the Philly area.

While in Philly, he also developed a love for Ultimate Frisbee, a game he played with PADA (Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance). In his honor the “Spirit of the Game Award” is  awarded each year to those exemplifying Bob's belief that the joy of playing the game and the treatment of one’s opponent should not be sacrificed for the sake of competitiveness.

Bob moved to Ithaca NY in 2002, seeking a less stressful lifestyle. He wanted to live where he could look up and see all the stars in the night sky. He hiked, swam in the falls, biked, played basketball and sailed. He continued to spread the word of alternative energy. 

Bob’s greatest love was his love for people. He connected and engaged with everyone he met in a genuine and empathetic way.  He had a marvelous sense of humor, a generous spirit, tremendous patience and an engaging twinkle in his eye.  He had a natural ability to build teams and strengthen communities, leaving a lasting living legacy.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A celebration of Bob's life will be held this summer, in Ithaca.

Community Solar Alive & Well in New Jersey

The first of many community solar projects went live in mid February in Perth Amboy, NJ. This project, like many in this first round of community solar projects will provide access to affordable solar energy to low income customers, helping to meet Gov. Murphy’s environmental justice goals. New Jersey has established the goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.

Conservation Corps holds great promise for Recovery

President Biden has directed a number of his Cabinet Secretaries to develop climate action plans for their agencies, including how to train and employ civilians in a new national conservation corps. In the 1930’s the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) planted over a million trees, developed parks, preserved open space in thousands of public works projects across the country. With so many jobs destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, a new Conservation Corps could help with economic recovery while addressing climate change. This recent article provides more detail.

RGGI Will Create >27,000 New Jobs and Save Lives in PA

New analysis from DEP finds that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will have significant health, economic and job creation benefits for Pennsylvanians. RGGI will:

• Create 27,000 net new jobs, without even counting the additional jobs that will be created through the investment of RGGI auction allowance proceeds in energy efficiency, solar energy, and other initiatives to improve air quality

• Save at least 639 lives by reducing air pollution

• Reduce asthma severity and frequency of attacks

• Add $1.9 Billion to the PA economy

• Save $6 Billion in health care costs

At this time when we are struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, RGGI will essentially be part of a Green Recovery for the Keystone State.

PECO Fails to meet Customer Demand for more Solar

Every 5 years PECO has to submit a Default Service Plan for approval to the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC), detailing how it will provide electricity service to the vast majority of its customers. Almost every customer who testified during the public hearing urged PECO to increase the amount of solar and other renewable energy in its supply. PSEA and other environmental stakeholders showed PECO that it could easily do this simply by expanding its use of long-term contracting in its power purchases. However, PECO declined to modify its proposed plan, ignoring both its customers’ preferences and the environmental realities. On a positive note, PECO’s plan does include a Time of Use (TOU) rate that will give electric vehicle owners a discount for overnight charging. The PUC has approved PECO’s plan.

PSEA’s Own Plays Key Role in Innovative Solar Building

Ron Celentano, PSEA’s Technical Director and long-time volunteer, served as the technical mastermind behind an extremely innovative multi-family building nearing completion in Kensington. This 28 unit apartment building is literally clad in solar panels, not only on the roof, but also on the south, east and west sides, in an effort to supply all the electricity the building requires. The building, an Onion Flats project approaches Passive House standards, and indeed will produce more electricity than it uses. This story in Solar Power World includes great images.

Bright Solar Futures

PEA’s Bright Solar Futures program for Opportunity Youth is continuing online, thanks to the support of Solar States instruction team and HeatSpring – an online platform for clean energy training. The current class of 16 PowerCorpsPHL Fellows is on track to complete the advanced 680-hour solar and energy efficiency curriculum.

Solar Job Growth Strong Nationwide; Tepid in PA

Nationally, solar jobs increased 44% over the past five years – 5x faster than the overall U.S. economy! Nearly 250,000 Americans now work in solar, based on the Solar Foundation’s 10th Annual Solar Jobs Census http://bit.ly/SolarJobs2019. Pennsylvania added only 12 new solar jobs, largely because the state has already reached the AEPS targets and has not passed any new solar legislation. There is growing concern that without action by the legislature, Pennsylvania’s solar industry will fall behind that of neighboring states.

C-PACE Open for Business in PA

Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing is now available in Philadelphia and many other counties across the state! Commercial property owners can use C-PACE to pay for on-site solar installations. C-PACE financing generally has low interest rates and can cover 100% of system and installation costs (including roof work, if necessary). Repayment is through a special assessment similar to a property tax and terms can be up to 30 years. The Philadelphia C-PACE Program is administered by the Philadelphia Energy Authority in Philadelphia. Visit PhiladelphiaCPACE.org or email CPACE@philaenergy.org for more information.  The program is administered by the Sustainable Energy Fund everywhere else in the state. Visit www.Pennsylvaniacpace.org or email CPACE@thesdf.org.

PA & Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

The PA Department of Environmental Protection has written draft regulations for PA’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a 10 year old regional carbon market which now includes every state from Maine to Virginia.  As the #3 polluting state in the nation, PA has more carbon than all the other RGGI states combined.  RGGI is a carbon cap and invest program which requires total carbon emissions from the electricity generation sector to decline by at least 3% per year.  Polluters must purchase allowances which are auctioned 4 times a year.  RGGI states invest the vast majority of the auction proceeds into energy efficiency and renewable energy, which does two important things.  It guarantees that total emissions decline and it keeps the cost of energy and carbon allowances low. 

Check the DEP website for the draft regulations and schedule of public meetings:

Solarize Philly: largest solarize program in nation!

Solarize Philly ( solarizephilly.org ), a group-buying program administered by the Philadelphia Energy Authority is going gangbusters in its fourth phase. The more residents who buy, the deeper the discounts. The Energy Authority has selected reputable installers and ensures quality equipment. In addition, there is a job training program for students interested in careers in renewable energy.

The program now offers a rebate of $.20 per watt! Homeowners also get a federal tax credit of 26 percent of a solar system’s cost. That tax credit is 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021, and expires entirely in 2022.

The Solar Home Tour went virtual in 2020. Check out Liz Robinson, PSEA’s Director explaining her solar PV system. This year, for the first time, Solarize Philly offered a lease option for qualifying residents to have solar installed, but lease it instead of owning. The installer would own the system and receive the tax credits. The homeowner would pay a small monthly fee. Phase 4 opened on Earth Day. Check the website for more information: www.solarizephilly.org. There has never been a better time to GO SOLAR!